Self-aligned via interconnect structures

ABSTRACT

A self-aligned via interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The method includes forming a wiring structure in a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a cap layer over a surface of the wiring structure and the dielectric material. The method further includes forming an opening in the cap layer to expose a portion of the wiring structure. The method further includes selectively growing a metal or metal-alloy via interconnect structure material on the exposed portion of the wiring structure, through the opening in the cap layer. The method further includes forming an upper wiring structure in electrical contact with the metal or metal-alloy via interconnect structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to self-aligned via interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing thereof.

BACKGROUND

Scaling of semiconductor devices is becoming ever more difficult in sub-22 nm technologies. For example, as structures continue to scale downward, via contact resistance becomes a performance limiting factor; that is, the via contact resistance becomes very high, particularly in back end of the line (BEOL) via interconnect structures.

By way of example, dual-damascene fill processes require PVD liner/barrier deposition. Due to the line width requirements in scaled technologies, e.g., sub 22 nm, the liner/barrier deposition will displace the primary conductor. As the PVD liner/barrier materials, e.g., TaN and Ta, have higher resistance than the primary conductors, e.g., Cu, dual-damascene fill processes have become a major contributor to increased contact resistance. This increased contact resistance, in turn, leads to decreased performance of the semiconductor device.

Also, as process technologies continue to shrink towards 14-nanometers (nm) and beyond, it is becoming difficult to build self-aligned fine pitch vias with current lithography processes. This is mainly due to the size of the underlying wiring lines, e.g., width of the underling wiring structure, as well as current capabilities of lithography tool optics for 32 nm and smaller dimension technologies.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the invention, a method includes forming a wiring structure in a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a cap layer over a surface of the wiring structure and the dielectric material. The method further includes forming an opening in the cap layer to expose a portion of the wiring structure. The method further includes selectively growing a metal or metal-alloy via interconnect structure material on the exposed portion of the wiring structure, through the opening in the cap layer. The method further includes forming an upper wiring structure in electrical contact with the metal or metal-alloy via interconnect structure.

In an aspect of the invention, a method includes: forming a wiring structure within a dielectric material; forming a dielectric masking layer over the wiring structure and the dielectric material; forming an opening in the dielectric masking layer, exposing a portion of the wiring structure; overfilling the opening with metal or metal-alloy material to form a via interconnect structure in direct electrical contact with the wiring structure; and forming an upper wiring structure in electrical contact with the via interconnect structure, within a trench formed in an upper dielectric material.

In an aspect of the invention, a method includes: forming a wiring structure in a dielectric layer; depositing a dielectric cap layer over the wiring structure and the dielectric layer; etching an opening in the dielectric layer, exposing a surface of the wiring structure; forming a self-aligned via interconnect structure in direct electrical contact with the metal material of the wiring structure by overfilling the opening with a metal or metal-alloy growth process; depositing an interlevel dielectric material over the self-aligned via interconnect structure and the dielectric cap layer; etching a trench within the interlevel dielectric material to expose one or more surfaces of the self-aligned via interconnect structure; depositing a barrier material and liner material over the exposed one or more surfaces of the self-aligned via interconnect structure and on sidewalls of the trench; and electroplating a metal or metal-alloy material on the liner material to complete formation of an upper wiring structure, in electrical contact with the via interconnect structure.

In an aspect of the invention, a structure includes a self-aligned cobalt interconnect structure between and in electrical contact with an upper wiring layer and a lower wiring layer. The self-aligned cobalt interconnect structure is an overgrowth of cobalt within an opening of a dielectric cap material on the lower wiring layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 1, 2 a and 2 b-6 show structures and respective processing steps in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows an alternative structure and respective processing steps in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to self-aligned via interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to self-aligned inverted via interconnect structures formed with selective CVD cobalt processes, which are self-aligned to underlying metal wiring structures. In embodiments, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect, e.g., cobalt via, is formed between an upper copper wiring structure and a lower copper wiring structure; although, other materials are also contemplated for use with the wiring structures. In embodiments, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure can be deposited by a selective metal growth process formed through a via in a dielectric cap layer formed over the upper wiring structure. In embodiments, the selective metal growth process is a selective cobalt growth process, which overfills the opening in the dielectric cap layer and can even be allowed to grow laterally on the surface of the dielectric cap layer.

In embodiments, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure introduces minimal interfacial resistance to the underlying wiring level. This is due to the fact that the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure does not require a barrier material and a liner material at the interface with the underlying wiring structure. That is, by using the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure, it is now possible to eliminate the liner/barrier interface between the via and underlying wire structure. Moreover, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure does not displace any primary conductive material in a via and, in fact, increases a contact area with an upper wiring structure, hence reducing the interfacial resistance with the upper wiring structure.

The self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure can be manufactured in a number of ways using a number of different tools. In general, though, the methodologies and tools are used to form structures with dimensions in the micrometer and nanometer scale. The methodologies, i.e., technologies, employed to manufacture the optimized wires have been adopted from integrated circuit (IC) technology. For example, the structures, e.g., self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure, are built on wafers and are realized in films of material patterned by photolithographic processes on the top of a wafer. In particular, the fabrication of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure uses three basic building blocks: (i) deposition of thin films of material on a substrate, (ii) applying a patterned mask on top of the films by photolithographic imaging, and (iii) etching the films selectively to the mask.

FIG. 1 shows a structure and respective processing steps in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a structure 10 comprising an interlevel dielectric layer 12. In embodiments, the interlevel dielectric layer 12 can be, for example, an oxide material or other low-k dielectric material. A wiring structure 14 is formed within the dielectric layer 12 using conventional lithography, etching and deposition processes. For example, the formation of the wiring structure 14 begins with the deposition and patterning of a resist on the interlevel dielectric layer 12. The resist patterned by exposure to energy (light) to form a pattern (openings), which corresponds to the dimensions of the wiring structure 14. A reactive ion etching (RIE) process is performed through the resist pattern to form a trench. The resist can then be removed using conventional etchants and/or stripping techniques, e.g., oxygen ashing.

A barrier/liner material 16′ is formed within the opening. In embodiments, the barrier/liner material 16′ can be a combination of a barrier metal or metal alloy material and a liner metal or metal alloy material. In embodiments, the barrier/liner material 16′ is deposited using either plasma vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. The PVD process provides a dense layer of barrier/liner material 16′, thus providing significantly improved barrier performance due to increased barrier density. Specifically, compared to CVD or ALD processes, in PVD processes, the copper fill will not leak into the interlevel dielectric layer thereby preventing time-dependent dielectric breakdown TDDB. Also, due to the increased barrier density, oxygen will not leak into the copper fill thereby decreasing interconnect resistance and increasing via interconnect and wiring structure lifetime.

In embodiments, the barrier material can be TaN or TiN with the liner material being Ta or Ti, respectively, or Co. A seed layer is deposited on the barrier/liner material 16′ followed by a deposition of wiring metal to form the wiring structure 14. By way of example, a seed layer of copper can be deposited using a PVD process, followed by an electroplating of copper material (both of represented at reference numeral 16″). In embodiments, other metal materials can also be used for the wiring structure 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1, any residual barrier/liner material 16′ and wiring material 16″ can be removed from the upper surface of the interlevel dielectric layer 12 using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The CMP process will also planarize the wiring structure 14 and the interlevel dielectric layer 12, for subsequent processing.

FIG. 2a shows a cross sectional view of a structure and respective processing steps in accordance with aspects of the present invention; whereas, FIG. 2b shows a top down view of the structure of FIG. 2a . In both of these views, a cap layer 18 is shown deposited on the planarized surface of the wiring structure 14 and the interlevel dielectric layer 12. In FIG. 2b , the cap layer 18 is represented in a partial transparent view to show the underlying structures, e.g., wiring structure 14 and the interlevel dielectric layer 12, for descriptive purposes only.

In embodiments, the cap layer 18 is a thin dielectric hard mask layer of, e.g., SiN or SiNC; although other capping materials are also contemplated by the present invention. The thin dielectric hard mask layer can have a thickness of about 25 nm or less, by way of one non-limiting illustrative example. In embodiments, the cap layer 18 can be deposited using a conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. An opening 20 is formed in the cap layer 18 using conventional lithography and etching processes, e.g., a wet etching process. As shown in FIG. 2b , the opening 20 crosses over the wiring structure 14 in order to expose a surface thereof. In embodiments, the opening 20 can be a slot pattern, crossing over a segment of the underlying wiring structure 14 to expose a portion thereof for further processing. By way of further example, the slot 20 can be formed orthogonal to the underlying wiring structure 14. In this way, subsequently formed structures, e.g., via and wiring structure, can be self-aligned with the underlying wiring structure 14.

In FIG. 3, the exposed surface of the wiring structure 14 undergoes a cleaning process, prior to a selective CVD Co growth. More specifically, in embodiments, the exposed surface of the wiring structure 14 is cleaned with a hydrogen plasma process to remove any oxide that formed on the surface of the wiring structure 14 when exposed to air, e.g., after the wet etching process. After the cleaning process to remove oxide, a selective CVD Co growth process overfills the opening 20, which is in direct electrical contact with the exposed metal surface of the wiring structure 14. The selective CVD Co growth process will overfill the opening 20, forming a self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22. In embodiments, the selective CVD Co growth will not nucleate on the interlevel dielectric layer 12 or the cap layer 18.

By utilizing the processes described herein, it is no longer necessary to form a barrier/liner material at the interface between the wiring structure 14 and the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22. By not using the barrier/liner material, the structure, e.g., self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 and underlying metal wiring structure, will exhibit decreased contact resistance. Also, advantageously, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 can be used to prevent electromigration, e.g., the transport of material caused by the gradual movement of ions in a conductor due to the momentum transfer between conducting electrons and diffusing metal atoms. In fact, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 can prevent two types of failure modes for via interconnect structures and wiring structures: (i) via depletion; and (ii) line depletion. Via depletion occurs when electrons flow from a wiring line below into the via interconnect structure above. On the other hand, line depletion occurs when electrons flow from the via interconnect structure down to the wiring line below.

In FIG. 4, an interlevel dielectric material 24 is deposited on the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 and the cap layer 18. In embodiments, the interlevel dielectric material 24 can be an oxide material deposited using a conventional CVD process. An opening (trench) 24 a is formed in the interlevel dielectric material 24, exposing one or more surfaces of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22. Depending on the designed contact resistance, the opening (trench) 24 a can be formed at different depths, exposing more or less surface area of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 as shown representatively in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, in order to adjust the surface contact resistance between the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 and an upper wiring structure. In embodiments, the opening (trench) 24 a is formed using conventional lithography and etching processes, as described herein.

In FIG. 5, following the formation of the opening (trench) 24 a, barrier/liner material 26 is formed on the surfaces of the interlevel dielectric material 24, in addition to any exposed surfaces of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 within the opening (trench) 24 a. In embodiments, the barrier/liner material 26 can be a combination of a barrier material and a liner material. For example, the barrier material can be TaN or TiN with the liner material being Ta, Ti or Co, respectively. In embodiments, the barrier/liner material 26 can be deposited on exposed surfaces of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 and surfaces of the interlevel dielectric material 24 (including sidewalls of the opening (trench) 24 a, using a conventional PVD process.

In FIG. 6, an upper wiring structure 28 is formed in direct contact with the barrier/liner material 26 and hence in electrical contact with the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 within the opening (trench) 24 a. In embodiments, the upper wiring structure 28 is formed by a deposition of a seed layer, followed by an electroplating process for the remaining portions of the wiring structure 28. By way of more specific example, a seed layer of copper is deposited using a PVD process, followed by an electroplating of copper material (both represented at reference numeral 28). In embodiments, other metal materials can also be used for the upper wiring structure 28. Any residual barrier/liner material 26 and wiring material of the wiring structure 28 can be removed from the upper surface of the interlevel dielectric layer 24 using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The CMP process will also planarize the material of the wiring structure 28 and the interlevel dielectric layer 24, for subsequent processing.

In this way, the upper wiring structure 28 is self-aligned with the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22, with an increased contact surface area (compared to conventional structures). This increased contact surface area will reduce the interfacial resistance with the upper wiring structure 28 (i.e., an inverted via-gouging approach). Also, the barrier/liner material 26 at the interface between the wiring structure 28 and the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 will minimize electromigration. Moreover, the surface contact areas can be adjusted by forming a deeper opening (trench) 24 a as described with respect to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative structure and respective fabrication processes in accordance with aspects of the invention. In FIG. 7, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22′ is shown to be overgrown, e.g., larger than the opening 20. For example, the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22′ can be formed by a lateral overgrowth of the cobalt onto edges of the opening 20, on the cap layer 18, e.g., the cobalt overlaps onto the cap layer 18 by “x” distance on one or both sides. In embodiments, distance “x” can equal any overlap of the upper wiring structure 28, thereby effectively increasing the contact area between the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22′ and the upper wiring structure 28. This increased contact surface area, in turn, will decrease the contact resistance of the structure.

Also, by adjusting the depth of the opening (trench) 24 a, a contact area between the wiring structure 28 and the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22 can be increased. For example, as further shown in FIG. 7, the opening 24 a can be deeper than shown in FIG. 6, for example, to expose more surface area of the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22′ (as represented by dimension “y”). This deeper opening 24 a will also effectively increase the contact surface area between the self-aligned inverted via interconnect structure 22′ and the upper wiring structure 28, hence decreasing the resistance of the structure (i.e., inverted via-gouging).

The method(s) as described above is used in the fabrication of integrated circuit chips. The resulting integrated circuit chips can be distributed by the fabricator in raw wafer form (that is, as a single wafer that has multiple unpackaged chips), as a bare die, or in a packaged form. In the latter case the chip is mounted in a single chip package (such as a plastic carrier, with leads that are affixed to a motherboard or other higher level carrier) or in a multichip package (such as a ceramic carrier that has either or both surface interconnections or buried interconnections). In any case the chip is then integrated with other chips, discrete circuit elements, and/or other signal processing devices as part of either (a) an intermediate product, such as a motherboard, or (b) an end product. The end product can be any product that includes integrated circuit chips, ranging from toys and other low-end applications to advanced computer products having a display, a keyboard or other input device, and a central processor.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed:
 1. A method, comprising: forming a wiring structure in a dielectric layer; depositing a dielectric cap layer over the wiring structure and the dielectric layer; etching an opening in the dielectric cap layer, exposing a surface of the wiring structure; forming a self-aligned via interconnect structure in direct electrical contact with the metal material of the wiring structure by overfilling the opening with a metal or metal-alloy growth process to have the self-aligned via interconnect structure in direct electrical contact with the wiring structure and directly on a portion of a top surface of the dielectric cap layer adjacent to the opening, wherein the growth process is performed while the entire top surface of the dielectric cap layer is exposed, wherein a contact region between the self-aligned via interconnect structure and the portion of the top surface of the dielectric cap layer which the self-aligned via interconnect structure is formed on is devoid of a barrier material and liner material; depositing an interlevel dielectric material over the self-aligned via interconnect structure and the top surface of the dielectric cap layer; etching a trench within the interlevel dielectric material to expose one or more surfaces of the self-aligned via interconnect structure; depositing a barrier material and liner material over the exposed one or more surfaces of the self-aligned via interconnect structure and on sidewalls of the trench; and electroplating a metal or metal-alloy material on the liner material to complete formation of an upper wiring structure, in electrical contact with the self-aligned via interconnect structure.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal or metal-alloy growth process is a selective cobalt growth process which overfills the opening.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective cobalt growth process laterally overgrows onto edges of the opening.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selective cobalt growth process forms the self-aligned via interconnect structure onto a surface of the dielectric cap layer.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the self-aligned via interconnect structure is cobalt.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the upper wiring structure is formed to overlap the self-aligned via interconnect structure by “x” distance on one side.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the upper wiring structure is formed to overlap the self-aligned via interconnect structure by “x” distance on both sides.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the “x” distance is an equal overlap of the upper wiring structure.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein an interface between the self-aligned via interconnect structure and the wiring structure is devoid of a liner material and a barrier material.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the etching of the trench within the interlevel dielectric material extends beyond an upper portion of the self-aligned via interconnect structure.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the dielectric cap layer is a deposition of dielectric masking material.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the opening in the dielectric cap layer comprises forming a slot exposing the portion of the wiring structure.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the slot is formed orthogonal to the wiring structure.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the etching of the opening in the dielectric cap layer comprises forming a slot exposing a portion of the surface of the wiring structure.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the slot is formed orthogonal to the wiring structure.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier material is TaN or TiN and the liner material is Ta, Ti or Co.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein: the growth process results in exposed sidewalls of the self-aligned via interconnect structure extending upward from the top surface of the dielectric cap layer; and the interlevel dielectric material is deposited after the growth process and on the exposed sidewalls of the self-aligned via interconnect structure, further comprising: forming an opening in the interlevel dielectric material to expose a top surface and upper portions of the sidewalls of the self-aligned via interconnect structure.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the opening in the dielectric cap layer exposes both: the surface of the wiring structure, and a top surface of the dielectric layer in which the wiring structure is formed.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the sidewalls of the self-aligned via interconnect structure extends continuously in a single direction from an intersection of the sidewall and the top surface of the dielectric cap layer to an intersection of the sidewall and an uppermost surface of the self-aligned via interconnect structure.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein: the wiring structure is copper; the self-aligned via interconnect structure is cobalt; the upper wiring structure is copper; and the upper wiring structure extends across a top surface and down along portions of the sidewalls of the self-aligned via interconnect structure. 